Coaches protest pay cuts

Sports helps kids stay in school

Head volleyball coach Gary Greer talks with his players during practice at Belleview High School on Friday. Greer has coached volleyball for 9 years, softball for 13 years and will be coaching girls basketball at the school this year as well.

But several high school athletic coaches have decided they will not let the cut happen without an argument.

They emphasize the importance of extra-curricular activities, which help keep students academically engaged and in school.

These coaches spoke not just for themselves and their fellow coaches; they were sticking up for non-sport sponsors, as well.

"I'm afraid if we sit back and let them do this without a fight, we'll be an easy target the next time," said Lyle Livengood, who coaches boys basketball and golf at West Port High School.

Ed McPadden, the district's program specialist over athletics and activities, said the cuts still must be negotiated with the teachers union and approved by the School Board.

Chris Altobello, the president of the teachers union, known as the Marion Education Association, said the district will recommend cutting the supplements by 30 percent at a negotiation meeting slated for Thursday.

Altobello said since the supplements are addressed in the contract, the the district and the union must negotiate any changes. If the union and district can't reach an agreement on the cuts, then the union could declare an impasse. The School Board would then ultimately make ruling on the cuts at a hearing.

Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn said he has recommended the 30 percent cut, "but it hasn't been determined exactly how."

He said the supplements could be cut by 30 percent across the board, or $390,000 could be removed from the budget by ending the supplements to some positions outright.

Annual pay supplements range down from $5,000 for head football and basketball coaches to $550 to some club sponsors, like art. If reduced, those supplements would drop to $3,500 and $385, respectively.

Alex Castaneda, a retired teacher and Vanguard High's head football coach, said some of the employees receiving the supplements earn, on average, less than $1 per hour for their work.

Castaneda said these dedicated employees do the work because they love helping students, especially those at-risk, to become successful adults.

He said many coaches and sponsors spend every dime of the pay supplements on gas, helping transport students home from practices or club meetings.

But in the end, every coach and club adviser must eventually look at his or her family's financial situation.

Castaneda said if a young coach worked a second job doing something other than coaching it would bring home more money for fewer hours. The more the supplements are cut, the more likely some of the younger assistants may get out of coaching altogether.

"Athletics, as well as all of the other extracurricular activities, are the best dropout prevention programs," said Castaneda, noting that students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate.

"It's a shame they (district officials) are doing this," he said. "But it hasn't been that long ago that the district threatened to take them away altogether."

Castaneda noted that without athletics and other after-school activities, the district couldn't boast about so many students getting scholarships to prestigious colleges.

He said while teaching affects students, extracurricular activities help impart those life lessons that are tougher to relay in the classroom.

"It's about teaching the kids to be productive (members of society)," he said.

Gary Greer, who coaches girls basketball, volleyball and softball at Belleview High School, said the district is not thinking the cuts through.

"I don't think it is right they are going after a group of people willing to spend time with so many students after school," said Greer, who spends much more time with high school athletes than he spends with his own family.

"A lot of these kids go to school because they are part of something," Greer said.

He said every last one of the 650 people who get pay supplements will tell you that "we don't do it for the money."

"But when they cut these supplements, it does make some of us think about other ways to make extra money for our families," he noted. "It's not just coaches. It's the yearbook advisers, band directors, deans, club sponsors and ROTC leaders who will be affected."

Phillip Yancey, Belleview High's head football coach, said the cuts may be the last straw for some coaches and sponsors. It may make them think about the way they spend their free time after school.

"It is just a slap in the face to coaches and all the others who get supplements," he said.

At Forest High, Athletic Director Jody Phillips said nearly half of the school's student body of more than 2,000 participates in sports.

"I'm hopeful they can find some way not to take this away from them," Phillips said. "They work so hard."

Tomyn on Thursday said that he had to make the cuts to make up a $29 million shortfall.

Tomyn said his staff tried to "spread the cuts around" so that one area did not receive the full brunt.

According to teacher contracts, those receiving supplements — which are divided up on paychecks over the course of the school year — must start receiving them by the third paycheck.

Tomyn said since the third paycheck comes before the School Board officially votes on the final budget on Sept. 10, the first payment will be based on last year's amount.

If the board passes the budget with 30 percent reductions in supplements, then the amount will drop by 30 percent on all the paychecks after the vote. "It makes me feel bad, especially for the beginning teachers and coaches," Yancey said. "These cuts will really hurt them."

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@ocala.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>The school district is moving forward with a plan to cut by 30 percent the supplements paid to 650 coaches, band directors, art club sponsors, deans and other such leaders.</p><p>But several high school athletic coaches have decided they will not let the cut happen without an argument.</p><p>They emphasize the importance of extra-curricular activities, which help keep students academically engaged and in school.</p><p>These coaches spoke not just for themselves and their fellow coaches; they were sticking up for non-sport sponsors, as well.</p><p>"I'm afraid if we sit back and let them do this without a fight, we'll be an easy target the next time," said Lyle Livengood, who coaches boys basketball and golf at West Port High School.</p><p>Ed McPadden, the district's program specialist over athletics and activities, said the cuts still must be negotiated with the teachers union and approved by the School Board.</p><p>Chris Altobello, the president of the teachers union, known as the Marion Education Association, said the district will recommend cutting the supplements by 30 percent at a negotiation meeting slated for Thursday.</p><p>Altobello said since the supplements are addressed in the contract, the the district and the union must negotiate any changes. If the union and district can't reach an agreement on the cuts, then the union could declare an impasse. The School Board would then ultimately make ruling on the cuts at a hearing. </p><p>Superintendent of Schools George Tomyn said he has recommended the 30 percent cut, "but it hasn't been determined exactly how."</p><p>He said the supplements could be cut by 30 percent across the board, or $390,000 could be removed from the budget by ending the supplements to some positions outright.</p><p>Annual pay supplements range down from $5,000 for head football and basketball coaches to $550 to some club sponsors, like art. If reduced, those supplements would drop to $3,500 and $385, respectively.</p><p>Alex Castaneda, a retired teacher and Vanguard High's head football coach, said some of the employees receiving the supplements earn, on average, less than $1 per hour for their work.</p><p>Castaneda said these dedicated employees do the work because they love helping students, especially those at-risk, to become successful adults.</p><p>He said many coaches and sponsors spend every dime of the pay supplements on gas, helping transport students home from practices or club meetings.</p><p>But in the end, every coach and club adviser must eventually look at his or her family's financial situation.</p><p>Castaneda said if a young coach worked a second job doing something other than coaching it would bring home more money for fewer hours. The more the supplements are cut, the more likely some of the younger assistants may get out of coaching altogether.</p><p>"Athletics, as well as all of the other extracurricular activities, are the best dropout prevention programs," said Castaneda, noting that students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average to participate.</p><p>"It's a shame they (district officials) are doing this," he said. "But it hasn't been that long ago that the district threatened to take them away altogether."</p><p>Castaneda noted that without athletics and other after-school activities, the district couldn't boast about so many students getting scholarships to prestigious colleges.</p><p>He said while teaching affects students, extracurricular activities help impart those life lessons that are tougher to relay in the classroom.</p><p>"It's about teaching the kids to be productive (members of society)," he said.</p><p>Gary Greer, who coaches girls basketball, volleyball and softball at Belleview High School, said the district is not thinking the cuts through.</p><p>"I don't think it is right they are going after a group of people willing to spend time with so many students after school," said Greer, who spends much more time with high school athletes than he spends with his own family.</p><p>"A lot of these kids go to school because they are part of something," Greer said.</p><p>He said every last one of the 650 people who get pay supplements will tell you that "we don't do it for the money."</p><p>"But when they cut these supplements, it does make some of us think about other ways to make extra money for our families," he noted. "It's not just coaches. It's the yearbook advisers, band directors, deans, club sponsors and ROTC leaders who will be affected."</p><p>Phillip Yancey, Belleview High's head football coach, said the cuts may be the last straw for some coaches and sponsors. It may make them think about the way they spend their free time after school.</p><p>"It is just a slap in the face to coaches and all the others who get supplements," he said.</p><p>At Forest High, Athletic Director Jody Phillips said nearly half of the school's student body of more than 2,000 participates in sports.</p><p>"I'm hopeful they can find some way not to take this away from them," Phillips said. "They work so hard."</p><p>Tomyn on Thursday said that he had to make the cuts to make up a $29 million shortfall.</p><p>Tomyn said his staff tried to "spread the cuts around" so that one area did not receive the full brunt.</p><p>According to teacher contracts, those receiving supplements — which are divided up on paychecks over the course of the school year — must start receiving them by the third paycheck.</p><p>Tomyn said since the third paycheck comes before the School Board officially votes on the final budget on Sept. 10, the first payment will be based on last year's amount.</p><p>If the board passes the budget with 30 percent reductions in supplements, then the amount will drop by 30 percent on all the paychecks after the vote. "It makes me feel bad, especially for the beginning teachers and coaches," Yancey said. "These cuts will really hurt them."</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@ocala.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>